trouble me more than not to carry my point. He only said what he did in order to frighten me; however, I am not so easily frightened. Justice, indeed!".

CHAPTER IV.

Ham.-Why did you laugh, then, when I said, Man delights not me?

Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you ....

[Flourish of trumpets within.]

Guil.-There are the players.

HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK.

"IT is a fine afternoon," said Miss Clairvaux, after their early dinner, "and, in spite of what I said, perhaps rather strongly to Mr. Debenham, I think we may manage a walk if we keep to the high grounds; where, indeed, the view is finest, and the air always freshest."

Accordingly they equipped themselves, and were soon on their way to the upland ridge, attended by a minute specimen of the canine race, answering to the name of Fly.

When they had gained the summit of a gently rising ground, diversified by not a few mole-hills and rabbit-holes, in the latter of which Fly often buried his head at the apparent peril of his existence, they reached a spot where they had a pretty extensive view over the adjacent country.

"There!" said Miss Clairvaux, stopping short, and looking with evident complacence at several large patches of water on the lower ground, “is it not as I say? just see the state of the country! especially the road between, me and the church. The idea of paying a highway-rate!"

The country is improved in an artistic point of view," observed Eleanor, "by the introduction of a little water, the only thing it would otherwise want."

"Yes, that is true," said Miss Clairvaux, looking at it with more pleasure; and she directed Eleanor's attention to a far-off cathedral, and to several scattered villages and country-seats, a Roman bath, and a battlefield in the wars of the Roses. There was a curious old house, nearer at hand, which struck Eleanor with its air of gloomy seclusion. The garden was inclosed with high stone walls, capped here and there with great balls and funereal-looking urns; over the walls rose dark, sombre ever-greens and spiry poplars. The only glimpse they permitted of the garden shewed a great aloe in a square wooden box near a formal summer-house. The house itself had half the windows blocked up on the side next the road; and, facing the north, had a dreary aspect.

"Who lives in that dismal house ?" said Eleanor.

"Do you call it dismal ?" said Miss Clair"Yes, I believe you may, though I

vaux.

VOL. I.

F

am used to it. A very good, though eccentric man lives there, his name is Newland; an old bachelor, a Nonconformist, a great student, a man of good parts but weak nerves; a very valetudinarian who fancies himself unable to stir from his fireside, and who yet, in his day, led an active life, hunted all the morning, danced all the evening, and was a useful man in public life."

"What is he like ?"

"He is never seen, except by his doctor, his minister, and his servants. Now and then, some one gets access to him on business, and comes away with very round eyes and raised eyebrows, to give all the petty details of the wild beast in his den-his slippers, his waste-paper basket-nothings, in short. There is nothing to tell; his life is perfectly monotonous. I can understand his love of solitude well enough, for I have something of it, too; but not his shutting himself up from the face of nature, unless upon compulsion. You know